Information Technology: McDonalds
Introduction
Information Technology or IT is considered as one of the most important aspects of organizations and companies in the world, due to the different impact of different aspects such as globalization, improving communication technologies as well as the variability of the demands of the customers. This paper will focus on the different issues and aspects of McDonalds regarding IT.
Application of Information Technology in McDonalds
McDonalds is considered as one of the most successful as well as famous brands in the whole world. Improving the application of IT on the menu of corporate goals of the company is considered as one of the priorities of the company (McGee 2003).
The transaction processing and recording and financial management is one of the most important aspects of the company where in IT is being applied. In addition, it can also help to improve the customer relationship management, sales and marketing activities by having a real-time transmittal of their restaurant inventory, point-of-sale or POS as well as financial data (Juniper n.d., p. 2). IT is being applied in order to process the order and payment of their customers in efficient and fast manners, then the data that had been gathered in their POS can be used in order to know the flow or the trends of the customers buying behavior that can help the company to deal and meet the demands and wants of their customers. In addition to that, the financial data that had been gathered from the POS will be helpful in knowing the performance of individual store as well as the overall performance of the company in the world that will be important in order to show the financial condition of the company to their stakeholders.
In addition, the company is also using the Internet and Intranet in order to get connected to their stakeholders. The Internet is being used in order to launch their different marketing strategy as well as to get connected to their possible and loyal customers. On the other hand, the intranet serves as a private communication channel for the internal stakeholders of the company such as the suppliers, shareholders and employees.
Policies, Procedures and Systems
The entire management information system or MIS of the company focuses on the three different purposes of information such as the strategic that mainly focus on the key ratios, strategic plans and marketing analysis that can help to analyze the current situation of the company that will help for establishments of strategies. The technical information focuses on the variance analysis and exception reports that help to compare the development of the company, based on past data. Above all, the operational information pertains on the current information such as the invoice, customer orders, stock records and sales (Edgar Online 2006).
In addition there are different departments that are responsible in generating the reports regarding the MIS such as the financial department, purchasing department, Human Resource department and sales and marketing department. The financial department focuses on the different reports regarding accounts, debits and payroll; the purchasing focuses on the orders and stock selection; the HR department focuses on the reporting regarding the levels of staffing, absenteeism, skills as well as shortage; and the sales and marketing produce the reports regarding the turnover, sales ration and market intelligence. All of the said reports can help to analyze the overall performance of the company that can help the decision-making process.
Figure 1 Map of Information Flows in McDonalds
Figure 1 shows the map of the information flow inside the organization. The said flow of information is important because it helps to maintain the smooth, real-time and correct transmission of information inside the organization. Update, efficient and consisted information flow inside an organization is important because it has a great impact on the decision-making process of the company. That is why it is important for each and every department to give the correct and current data and information regarding their individual performance, thus it can also help to know the problematic areas of the company and then find solutions or way to improve their performance. Furthermore, it can also prevent misunderstanding to happen that can cause huge problem in the entire process and transactions of the company.
Recommendation
There is no doubt that McDonalds is considered as a global leader in terms of franchise restaurants in the world. Many of the restaurants are being owned and control by owner-operator and franchisees with the access to many of the global resources of the company such as marketing, restaurant operations, real estate development, HR, training, learning and development as well as quality control. Due to the said situation, the network of the owner-operators is so huge, and the information is so intense. That is the reason why the company is having a difficulty in developing and maintaining their Intranet that will help to provide all the groups regarding their needs (Flair Interactive 2006).
In order to solve that problem it will be important to redesign the intranet system of the company that will implement the content management system of CMS that will help to maintain in efficient and consistent manner the information across the site. Furthermore, it is also important to consider the differences between the countries such as the language, connection speed as well as personalized and customized information system (Flair Interactive 2006).
Furthermore, it will also be important to improve the security and privacy issues of the information of the company in order to ensure that no confidential information that can affect the company and its stakeholders will be taken from the system of the company. Furthermore, anti-virus and firewall must be improve and maintain in order to ensure that there will be no illegal or unauthorized entities that will access the files and data of the company. Above all, it is also important to ensure that there will be no viruses and the likes that will destroy vital information of the company.
References
McDonald’s Canada Says “I’m Lovin’ It” to Juniper’s Network Security Solutions, Juniper, viewed 12 September 2008, <http://www.juniper.net/sol utions/customer_profiles/ns/case_mcdonalds_canada.pdf>
McDonald’s Corporation 2006, Edgar Online, viewed 12 September 2008, <http://sec.edgar-online.com/2006/02/27/0001193125-06-039862/Section12.asp>
McDonald’s Intranet Redesign 2006, Flair Interactive, viewed 12 September 2008, <http://www.flairinteractive.net/portfolio/casestudies/mcdonalds.ht ml>
McGee, M K 2003, McDonald’s Adds To IT Menu, InformationWeek (23, June), viewed 12 September 2008, <http://www.informationweek.com/news/ma nagement/training/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=10700692>
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